Chrisland tasks government on infrastructure deficit in schools

Managing Director, Chrisland Schools, Ibironke Adeyemi has urged the government to as a matter of urgency address the infrastructural deficit in the sector.Adeyemi lamented that the decay in tertiary institutions across the country is alarming hence the need for urgent intervention.

This, according to her would enable the sector to measure up with their counterparts in other developing countries of the world.Adeyemi spoke recently during a three- day tour of the school across the southwest states in commemoration of its 40th anniversary.

The school administrator specifically lamented that inadequate funding; infrastructure deficit and poor remuneration among others have reduced schools to mere establishments rather than centres to build minds.

“It is disturbing that government is not doing enough in the sector, I mean it is poorly funded. For instance, it is not the same University of Lagos (UNILAG) I had my first and second degree that now exists. The gap is too wide. In fact, there was a time I was nearly in tears because of the situation I saw in the institution. If I had not been a former student, I would have concluded that it is not a good university. There are schools I passed through in Nigeria, which today, I cannot send my children to because they are poorly funded and the infrastructural system are in shambles.

“These are challenges in the country that we want the government to address. I am scared for this nation and that is the truth. I believe so much in Nigeria. I was not born here but I believe that Nigeria is my country and I want to stay here and add my own quota to the development of the nation. But for the first time I am really disenchanted. It scares me that if I am feeling this way I do not know what other people are feeling.”

Mrs Adeyemi also lamented the imposition of taxes by government at all levels on private schools and called for a review from all concerned.“There is so much harassment on private businesses, especially when they feel you are big or well known. You see different people coming for various kinds of taxes. The electricity bill we pay is nothing less than N8 million every month. We also buy diesel. The costs are enormous and we cannot pass it to parents because the economy is bad.’’

Some parents who could pay before are finding it difficult to pay now apparently because of the state of the nation’s economy,” she said.Chrisland Schools run primary and secondary schools in Lagos and Abuja, while its university, which started three years ago is located in Abeokuta, Ogun State.Adeyemi said the schools could compete with their counterparts worldwide in terms of facilities and human resources.